Three men have been jailed for a brazen daylight smash-and-grab robbery at a jewellers in the affluent London suburb of Richmond. The gang used a sledgehammer to smash the window of Gregory & Co on a busy January morning, making off with £225,000 worth of diamond and gold jewellery.
Details of the raid
The robbery, captured on CCTV, showed two masked men battering the shop window with a sledgehammer before grabbing jewellery and fleeing towards Richmond Green. Terrified tourists and locals watched as the thieves escaped in under a minute. The jewellers is located just two doors from the flat used as the residence of the fictional manager in the Apple TV show Ted Lasso, which is set in Richmond.
Sentences handed down
Deniz Mehmet, 28, from Basildon, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to rob. Robert Clarke, 50, from Rochford, received six years and six months, and Lee Ramsey, 46, of Harlow, was jailed for five years and three months, both for the same offence. The sentences were passed at Kingston Crown Court earlier this month.
Detective Superintendent Dan Mitchell of the Met’s Flying Squad said: “Robberies of this kind cause real concern for residents and businesses in the communities that are targeted. It’s they who feel the immediate impact. These sentences mark a significant step in what has been a detailed and determined investigation. I hope they demonstrate our commitment to tackling smash‑and‑grab robberies in London by going after those involved, wherever they are. The groups responsible should be under no illusion – we will pursue you relentlessly and hold you to account.”
Investigation and arrest
The trio were caught after detectives analysed CCTV footage, conducted forensic analysis, and recovered a vehicle linked to the robbery. The investigation was led by the Metropolitan Police’s Flying Squad, which specialises in serious organised crime.
Local fears over Ted Lasso effect
Residents and business owners in Richmond have expressed concern that the popularity of Ted Lasso has made the area a magnet for criminals. The flat featured in the show was burgled about a year ago. Eyewitness Amy Hilton, 26, told Metro: “I was in the cafe nearby. I heard a thumping and then looked over and two men were bashing in the window. It was very shocking there were people out and about and everyone was scared. The locals have been saying it could be the Ted Lasso series that has made the area more of a target. It was really scary.”
Karen Lewis, 65, a local resident, said: “The filming has brought unwanted attention to the area. There are more burglaries around the green with thieves knowing the houses are empty. Sometimes people live abroad some of the year. On the day of the robbery I could have been going past and caught up in it. It’s all very frightening.” Tony Puci, who lives near the jewellers, added: “The Ted Lasso thing has definitely attracted more criminals it’s a magnet for thieves. Around a year ago someone tried to burgle Ted Lasso’s flat. I saw the raid on the jewellers it was in the morning and so shocking. I saw a bloke with a sledgehammer bashing the window. It was all over in under a minute.”
Impact on community
The robbery has shaken the wealthy neighbourhood, which is home to rock stars, business moguls, and other high-profile individuals. The Flying Squad’s success in bringing the gang to justice aims to reassure the public and deter future similar crimes.
